Income Support

As of May 2012, you are eligible to apply if you are a single parent responsible for a child under the age of 5. To apply, call 0800 055 6688 or apply on-line.

Jobseekers Allowance

You are eligible to apply over the summer vacation if you are single OR you are a couple who are both full-time students, and responsible for a child under the age of 16. The person claiming must be 'available for and actively seeking work' and meet other Jobseekers Allowance rules. To apply, call JobCentre Plus on 0800 055 6688 or apply on-line.

Housing Benefit

You can apply if you are a single parent responsible for a dependent child aged under 20 OR you are a couple who are both full-time students and responsible for a dependent child aged under 20. To apply, please contact your Local Council's Housing Benefit Department.

Child Tax Credit

As a rough guide you may be eligible to apply for CTC if your income is below £26,000 if you have 1 child and £32,200 if you have 2 children. However this is only a rough guide and you can check your eligibility by visiting www.hmrc.gov.uk

Working Tax Credit

You are eligible to apply if you are a lone parent with a dependent child and work at least 16 hours per week or you have a partner and your joint working hours are at least 24 a week.

Council Tax:

Disability Living Allowance or Incapacity Benefit

Income Support (on grounds of illness)

If you receive Income Support, this may stop once you become a full-time student because of the amount of student income you receive. Please contact Money Doctors for further advice.

Employment Support Allowance

Once you become a full-time student, you cannot continue to receive Income-Based Employment Support Allowance unless you receive Disability Living Allowance. Please seek further advice if you are receiving Contribution-based Employment Support Allowance.

Housing Benefit

You are eligible to apply for this if you are receiving Employment Support Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Disability Living Allowance or you have been signed off work for at least 28 weeks and continue to be signed off sick. To apply, please contact your Local Council's Housing Benefit Department.

Working Tax Credit

You are eligible to apply if you have a physical or mental disability which puts you at a disadvantage of getting a job, qualify for a disability element and you work at least 16 hours per week.

Council Tax:

Are not eligible for Social Security Benefits until they graduate or withdraw from a course. If you are considering intermitting from your course, please seek further advice regarding any monies you could claim BEFORE you intermit as the rules are complicated.

Once you graduate or withdraw from a course, you may be eligible to Jobseekers Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

Students who are aged 25 or over and work at least 30 hours per week OR are aged 60 or over and work at least 16 hours per week can apply for Working Tax Credit.

Council Tax:

If you are a part-time student, you can still apply for Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Disability Benefits and Tax Credits as long as you meet the eligibility criteria for the particular benefit/tax credit concerned. If you receive a tuition fee grant and/or a books grant as a part-time student, this will not be counted as income.